Island



-(Model.)

H. A. CHURCH.

Lacing-Hook.

- Not 227,094. Patented May 4, H.880.

IINVENTORI WITNESSESI NITED STATES PATENT Orrrea.

HENRY A. CHURCH, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

LAClNG-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,094, dated May 4,1880.

Application filed March 31, 1880. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. CHURCH, of the city of Providence, countyof Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented anew and usefulImprovement in Lacing-Hooks, and in the art of making the same; and Ihereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in the art of makinglacing-hooks, by means of which the same may be made of steel or lowiron, and a stronger, better, and cheaper article produced. It also hasreference to improvements in the lacing-hook by which the weight of thehook is reduced and the strength increased, while the hook can be morereadily and more firmly secured in place.

Figure 1 is a plan and sectional view of a blank of sheet-steel orrefined iron, in which four slits are cut at the place where the tubularrivet is to be formed. Fig. 2 shows the blankin full view, also insection, after the sec ond step of the process in forming thesemispherical cup has been performed. Fig. 3 is a view of and also asection of the blank after the third step in the process of drawing thetubular rivet has been performed. Fig. 4is a view of and a section ofthe blank after the fourth step in the process of cutting 05 the end ofthe tubular rivet has been taken. Fig. 5 is a View and a section of theblank after the fifth step in the process has been performed. Fig. 6 isa View and a section of the finished lacinghook after the sixth step ofthe process has been performed. Fig.7 is a view, partly in section,showing the lacing-hook secured to the material; and Fig. Sis a bottomview of the same.

Heretofore lacing-hooks for shoes have ordinarily'been made of brass orsimilar soft metal, and afterward coated with a black enamel, that theymay harmonize with the color of the shoe.

Lacing-hooks thus constructed have been found objectionable in use,owing to the fact that the enamel soon wears off and leaves the brightand shining metal fully exposed to view.

To obviate this difficulty, secure greater strength and stiffness, andreduce the first cost of the material, I make my improved lacing-hooksof homogeneous steel orrefined iron, the natural color of which is notso objectionable as the color of brass, the strength of which is muchsuperior and the cost much below the cost of the metals heretofore used.

Homogeneous steel and refined iron cannot be drawn and stamped into theforms required for lacing-hooks as readily while cold as brass orsimilar metal, and to produce the finished hook the various steps in theprocess must be arranged with a view to the greater tenacity of thematerial; and to facilitate the manufacture I stamp into the blank A, ofsoft homogeneous steel or refined iron, the slits I) b at the placewhere the tubular rivet is to be formed, as is shown in Fig. 1, and bythus separating the material the flow of the metal, when under pressure,is facilitated, and the semi-spherical cup shown in Fig. 2 is morereadily formed and with less pressure than would be possible if theslits b I) had not been first cut.

The spherical cup 0 is made of considerable larger diameter than thetubular rivet which is to be formed out of the metal of the cup 0.

The metal composing that portion of the cup adjoining the blank iscompressed while the drawing-out dies are being operated to elongate thetubular rivet, which is first formed with a closed'end, c, asillustrated in Fig. 3, which end is afterward removed, causing the blankto appear as shown in Fig. 4.. All these operations have been performedto produce thetubular rivet d, and the hook is still to be formed. Theblank A, as shown in Fig. 4, is now subjected to pressure in a die, andthe rounded button f and the raised rib g are formed as is shown in Fig.5, both in view and section. 9 is a section through the line 1 2. Theblank is now bent into the hook form shown. in Fig. 6. The raised rib 9,extending from the tubular rivet to the buttonf, increases the strengthand stiffness of the neck and prevents the closing of the hook, to whichhooks of the old construction are liable, and which is a great annoyancein the use of lacing-hooks.

Then these improved lacing-hooks are to be secured to boots, shoes, orother articles, the slits b I) allow the tubular rivet to open morereadily than when the tube is solid, and

they will turn over and enter the leather, as shown in Fig. 7, holdingthe hook more firmly.

A tubular rivet or eyelet, when secured, forms a flange somewhat largerthan the hole in the material, since the excessive strain, particularlythe lateral strain exerted on a lacinghook, has a tendency to force theflange at the point opposite the hook through the hole and loosen thehook.

My improved hook has no such tendency, as the four bands enter thematerial at a greater distance from the hole, and are clinched so as tofirmly hold the material, as is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. These hooks maybe made in the improved form, of any material now used for lacing-hooks,and'they will be stronger, stiffer, and can be better secured thanlacinghooks as heretofore made; but I prefer to make the lacing-hooks ofhomogeneous steel or refined iron, as they are stiffer, stronger,cheaper, and better suited for boots and shoes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The method of making lacing-hooks, substantiallyas hereinbefore set forth, the same consisting, essentially, in firstforming diverging slits in one end of the blank; second, in stamping acup from such slitted portion; third, in drawing out a tubular rivetfrom said cup; fourth, in removing the closed end of the rivet; fifth,in stamping the raised rib g and button f and, sixth, in bending thebutton to the required shape, substantially as set forth.

2. A lacing-hook consisting of a tubular pronged rivet and a buttonconnected with said rivet by a neck re-enforced by a rib, substantial] yas set forth.

HENRY A. CHURCH.

Witnesses:

Josnrn A. MILLER, J. A. MILLER, Jr.

